Time line

Date / Category / Event / Notes / Link

1770 Event - Australia Capt. James Cook landed eastern Australia in H.M.S. Endeavour

1788-01-26 Event - Australia First fleet of 11 ships arrives Sydney Cove Established the penal colony that became the first European settlement in Australia.

1798 Event - Australia Flinders and Bass in the sloop Norfolk circumnavigated Van Diemen’s Land, proving it to be an island, and opening up a route to southern Australia

1801–03 Event - Australia Matthew Flinders circumnavigates continent, which he names ‘Australia’

1803 Ship Union (for 4 months), captain Isaac Pendleton Independence built by American sealers based in American River.

1804 Event - Australia Foundation of Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, as a British colony

1806 (approx) Event - KI "Joseph Murrell & 6 crew stranded" Sealers dropped off at the N.E. end of KI at Murrell’s Landing (Harvey’s Return)

1809 Ship Eliza Collects Murell + 2, returns to Port Jackson with skins

1810 Ships Endeavour of Sydney, Endeavour of Norfolk Salt, seal skins

1812 Ship Elizabeth and Mary collected KI salt, returned to Sydney in June

1812 Ship Campbell Macquarie arrives Nepean Bay

1813 BDM / Personal Henry Fifer, sealer, from "Elizabeth and Mary" (or "Campbell Macquarie"?) Still on KI 1817

1817 Ships Henrietta, Rosetta, Spring arrive Hobart with KI salt and skins

1818 BDM / Personal ‘Governor’ Henry Wallen (aka Wallan) established a farm in the Cygnet River Valley

1818 (approx.) BDM / Personal Abyssinian Jack (John Anderson) sealer, reported as living on KI for 14 years

1819 Ship Jupiter, Captain Ainswworth Salt and skins, C.Feen (Chief Officer) and Samuel Tomlins drowned at Bay of Shoals.

1819 Ship Governor Macquarie Captain Sutherland on Kangaroo Island (see 1831)

1820 Ship Little Mary, Captain James returns from KI to Sydney

1824 BDM / Personal Nathaniel Walles Thomas from the brig Nereus Tasmanian aboriginal wife Betty

1824 BDM / Personal George ‘Fireball’ Bates, established a farm in Hog Bay

1826 Population "Upwards of 200 souls vegetating on this convenient spot. 30 men and 40 black women, independent of a numerous progeny, contrive to make themselves quite comfortable in their snug retreat."

1827 BDM / Personal Nathaniel Walles (Nat) Thomas established a farm at Creek Bay

1827 Event - KI Major Lockyer reports on Kangaroo Islanders "'a complete set of pirates, ..., having their chief resort or den at Kangaroo Island,..

1830 Event - SA Charles Sturt explores Murray River

1831 Event - Australia Captain Sutherland writes glowing account of his 1819 visit influencing the SA Coy to establish the capital on K.I.

1831-04-29 Event - SA Collett Barker killed by natives Murray Mouth

1834 BDM / Personal George Meredith (later murdered) Aboriginal wives Big Sal and Suke.

1835 Ship William, cutter, William Thompson disembarks and joins Waller

1836-02-19 Event - World Letters Patent enabling the South Australian Act establishing the Province of South Australia

1836-06-14 Event - SA Capt John Hindmarsh received commission as governor of SA

1836-07-30 Ship Lady Mary Pelham arrives Nepean Bay

1836-08-19 Ship John Pirie arrives Nepean Bay

1836-08-20 Ship Rapid arrives Nepean Bay

1836-09-11 Ship Cygnet arrives Nepean Bay

1836-09-24 BDM / Personal Samuel Stephens, Charlotte Beare married aboard the John Pirie

1836-10-05 Ship Emma arrives Nepean Bay

1836-11-04 Ship Africaine arrives Nepean Bay

1836-11-07 BDM / Personal John Rapid Hoare birth Rapid Bay

1836-11-20 Ship Tam O'Shanter arrives Nepean Bay

1836-12-24 Event - SA Buffalo arrives Port Lincoln

1836-12-28 Event - SA Buffalo arrives Holdfast Bay

1837 Event - SA David MacLaren Manager, SA Coy to 1841

1837-01-12 Ship Coromandel Arrives Nepean Bay, and stayed about 3 days

1837-01-16 Ship William Hutt arrives Nepean Bay from London, went aground, one passenger Matthew Peary PIESSE, departs 22 Jan 1837 for Holdfast Bay. The same year Matthew married Margaret Eliza CLARK(E) who arrived a little earlier on the Africaine.

1837-02-?? BDM / Personal Jeremiah Calnan (Africaine) dies at sea Encounter Bay

1837-02-07 Ship John Renwick arrives Nepean Bay

1837-03-09 BDM / Personal Lucy Beare nee Loose dies, burial Pioneers Cemetery

1837-04-22 Ship South Australian arrives Nepean Bay en route to Holdfast Bay

1837-05 Ship Regia from Sydney to Adelaide

1837-05 Ship Lord Hobart from the Cape, with cattle, to Pt Adelaide

1837-05-04 Ship Schah (Shah) en route to Holdfast Bay from England

1837-06-20 Event - World Death of King William IV of England.

1837-06-21 Event - World Princess Victoria proclaimed Queen

1837-10-16 Ship Hartley arrives Nepean Bay, carrying the William Giles family

1837-10-14 BDM / Personal Maria Kleeman, nee Helm dies at sea on Solway, buried Pioneers Cemetery

1837-10-15 Ship Solway, Katherine Stewart Forbes, Hartley at Nepean Bay

1838-01-15 Ship Royal Admiral direct from Falmouth 16w 1d arrives Nepean Bay for 2 days

1838-06-10 Event - KI Governor Hindmarsh visits Kingscote Arrived on the Pelorus. Entertained by W. Giles.

1838-07-14 Event - SA Governor Hindmarsh recalled replaced by Lt-Colonel George Gawler

1838-07-25 Ship Duke of Roxburghe en route to Holdfast Bay discharged Enoch Essex, wife and child, and a single man

1838-10-12 Event - SA George Gawler, 2nd governor arrives on 'Pestonjee Bomanjee'

1838-12-20 Ships Prince George, Goshawk ballasting in Nepean Bay

1839 Event - SA SA Company HQ moved from Kingscote to Adelaide

1839-02-18 BDM / Personal Samuel Giles dies age 9y, buried Pioneers Cemetery

1839-07-18 BDM / Personal Edward Hollingworth Giles dies age 8m, buried Pioneers Cemetery

1839-10-06 BDM / Personal Col. William Light dies at Thebarton

1840-01-18 Event - SA Samuel Stephens, manager SA Coy to 1837 dies from falling from horse

1841-05-10 Event - SA Governor Gawler recalled, replaced by George Grey until 1845 Colonization Commission bankrupt

1843 Event - Australia John Ridley invented reaping machine radically changed farming methods

1844 Event - SA Kapunda copper mining started

1845 Event - SA Burra Burra copper mining (to 1877)

1845-10-25 Event - SA Governor (until 1848) Lt-Col. Frederick Holt Robe

1846-01-09 BDM / Personal Elizabeth Beare dies of burns, at Netley, buried West Terrace Cemetery

1847 Ship 11 ton cutter William wrecked at Penneshaw Built American River c.1844 by Wm. Wilkins and Wm. Walker

1848-08-02 Event - SA Governor (until 1854) "Sir Henry, E.F. Young"

1851 BDM / Personal Census Kangaroo Island 85 males 33 females, total 118

1851-09-12 Ship Reliance arrives, en route to Port Adelaide.

1852-01-16 Event - KI Cape Willoughby lighthouse light exhibited

1853-11-25 Shipwreck Osmali, D'Estrees Bay

1854 Personal - John Buick settles at American River, establishing a farm and orchard

1855-06-08 Event - SA Governor (until 1862) "Sir Richard G. MacDonnell, CB."

1856 Event - SA South Australia became a self-governing colony ratification of a new constitution by the British parliament

1856-04-?? BDM / Personal Robert (Henry) "Governor" Wallen dies Adelaide, burial Pioneers Cemetery

1857 Event - SA Waste Lands Act 1857 set out conditions for sale of Crown Land

1858 BDM / Personal - Samuel Reeves, son of Augustus dies, burial Pioneers Cemetery

1858-01-27 Event - SA Torrens Title - Real Property Act 1858 reforms in registering and conveyancing freehold title of land

1859 Event - KI Faith, Hope and Charity cottages built by Charles and Michael Calnan

1859-07-13 Event - KI Cape Borda lighthouse light exhibited

1860 Event - SA Wallaroo copper mining started

1860-05-21 Shipwreck Fides, nr Snug Cove

1861-11-06 BDM / Personal Thomas Hudson Beare dies, buried Myponga.

1862-03-04 Event - SA Governor (until 1868) Sir Dominick Daly https://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/governors.htm

1862-10-27 BDM / Personal Harriet Granger (wife of George) dies, burial Pioneers Cemetery https://www.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=dukeofyork&view=0&pid=8311&ver=86935

1869 Event - SA Strangways Act 1869 (amendment of Waste Lands Act) applied credit purchase to defined ‘agricultural areas’

1874 Land Hd Dudley proclaimed

1874 Land County Carnarvon, proclaimed

1875-12-25 Event - KI Submarine cable to Normanville project completed in 6 days

1876-08-13 Event - KI Cape Borda to Kingscote overland cable connecting to Adelaide

1877 Land Selection : Dundas, Menzies, Haines, and Cassini

1877-05-15 Shipwreck Emily Smith, South K.I.

1878 Land Hd Menzies proclaimed

1881-05-09 BDM / Personal George Granger dies, burial Pioneers Cemetery

1882-01-13 Event - KI, Hog Bay becomes Penneshaw, Government Gazette

1882-01-20 Event - Large bush fires on K.I.

1882-12-28 the town of Maxwell was proclaimed. The name of the town was changed to Emu Bay in December 1941.

1883 Land Hd Haines proclaimed

1883 Event - KI New Kingscote Cemetery Pioneers cemetery ceded by SA Coy

1884 Land Hd Cassini proclaimed

1884 BDM / Personal John Bernard ANDERSON and George Wilson RUTHVEN Publicans of Queenscliffe Hotel.

1884-04-14 Shipwreck Mimosa, Stokes Bay

1884-07-08 BDM / Personal Sarah Mary Paris (nee Chennell) wife of George dies, burial Pioneers Cemetery

1885-06-16 Shipwreck Mars, off Western Bay

1885-10-?? Event - KI Ligurian Bees Bill establishing a sanctuary for Ligurian bees on KI

1886 Event - SA Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1886 consolidate and amend the Law relating to Crown Lands

1887-09-16 BDM / Personal Lucy Beare (nee Bull), Thomas H. Beare's 2nd wife dies, buried North Road cemetery

1888-01-05 Event - KI District Councils Act 1887 - District Council of Kingscote initially comprised the entirety of Kangaroo Island

1888-06-07 Event - KI Proclamation of District Council of Dudley "severed" from the District Council of Kingscote

1889-01-26 Shipwreck Maldon Lewis, off Point Morrison

1890-06-14 Shipwreck You Yangs, East of K.I.

1895-02 Large bush fires on Kangaroo Island.

1895 Population estimated at ninety souls, all told.

1896 BDM / Personal Matida ANDERSON, Queenscliffe Hotel

1899 Event - World Boer War to May 1902

1899-04-24 Shipwreck Loch Sloy, Maupertius Bay

1901-01-01 Event - Australia Federation of Australia S.A. ceased to be a self-governing colony and became a state of the Commonwealth of Australia.

1901-01-22 Event - World Death of Queen Victoria

1901-12-25 BDM / Personal John Bernard Anderson prop. Queenscliffe Hotel, dies

1902-05-30 BDM / Personal Samuel O'HARA, Queenscliffe Hotel

1902-09-09 BDM / Personal James OLDS (Jnr), Queenscliffe Hotel

1903-08-09 BDM / Personal Henry AYRIS, Queenscliffe Hotel

1905 Shipwreck Loch Vennachar, between 6 Sep - 29 Sep

1906 Land Hd MacGillivray proclaimed

1906-11-18 Shipwreck Montebello, west Stunsailboom River

1907-10-09 BDM / Personal Matilda ANDERSON, Queenscliffe Hotel

1908 Event - SA Royal Commission (to 1911) upon the necessity for a railway through K.I.

1908 Land Hd Seddon proclaimed

1908 Land Farmers and property owners. See list of names in the newspaper article

1908-09-18 Event - KI Kingscote Golf Club inaugural meeting

1908-10-03 BDM / Personal Charles Alfred ANDERSON, Queenscliffe Hotel

1909 Land Hd Duncan, Hd Ritchie, Hd Newland proclaimed

1909 Event - KI Cape du Couedic lighthouse light exhibited

1910 Land Hd McDonald proclaimed

1910-07-05 Event - KI Floods

1915 Event - SA Settlement of Returned Soldiers ...Act 1915

1915-07-26 Shipwreck Vera, near jetty, Cape De Couedic

1918-08-28 Event - KI Ozone Hotel destroyed by fire

1919-10-?? Event - Flinders Chase. After a 27-year advocacy campaign, and periodic dedication of land by the government, in October 1919 the South Australian parliament established Flinders Chase as a nature reserve on the western end of the island. Flinders Chase provides a protected environment for the island’s unique flora and fauna and a sanctuary for mainland species threatened with extinction.

1922-05-20 Event - KI Kangaroo Island Football Association incorporation

1931 Land Hd Gosse proclaimed

1932 Event - World Great Depression Aust. unemployment record 30%

1934-07-19 Event - KI Penneshaw Golf Club inaugural meeting

1945 Event - SA War Service Land Settlement Agreement Act 1945

1947 Population 1479

1951-07-26 Event - KI Soldier Settlement Scheme; Parndana established . 174 families came to live in the area, almost doubling K.I.'s population by 1954. Huge work involved in clearing the land, with Council (Burdon was overseer) laying the new roads. Last new blocks in Hd of Borda settled in 1964.

1954 Population 2522

1960 Land Hd Borda proclaimed

1965 Event - Submarine cable laid to mainland providing electric power

1991 Event - Australia Economic slump forced farmers to diversify

1998 Event - KI Penneshaw reverse-osmosis seawater desalination plant

2011 Population 2011 Census 4417